Magach

Magach

Magach (מג"ח; Ma-GAKH) or in full, Merkevet Giborey Chayil (מרכבת גיבורי חייל; Hebrew: Chariot of War Heroes) is a series of Israelitanks, based on the American M48 and M60 Patton tanks. Magach 3 and 5 are based upon M48 tanks; Magach 6 and 7 are based upon M60 tanks.

Service History

The tanks were sold to the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) by West Germany and later the United States, during the 1960s and 1970s. Several dozen Jordanian M48 tanks, captured intact during the 1967 Six Day War, were also commissioned into service, adding to Israel's 150 already in service at that time. During the war, the Israeli tanks served in their original (American) configuration.

Following the 1967 war, several modifications were made to improve the tank to M48A3 level, resulting with the Magach 3. These modifications included replacement of the original 90 mm cannon gun with the British 105 mm L7, lowering the command turret's profile, upgraded communication suite, and replacement of the flammable and weak gasoline engine with a 750hp diesel one.

By the time the 1973 Yom Kippur War erupted, some 800 Magach 3 were in active service, in addition to some original-configuration M60 (Magach 6). During the war, the tanks suffered heavy losses. The location of flammable hydraulic fluid at the front of the turret was discovered to be a severe vulnerability. The war's losses were replaced with new M48A5 (Magach 5) and M60 (Magach 6) during the 1970s.

During the 1980s and 1990s, the Magachs were gradually replaced with Merkava tanks as Israel's front-line main battle tank. However, the large majority of the IDF's armoured corps continued to consist of Magach variants until the 1990s, and the tank was continuously upgraded during this time.

Prior to the 1982 invasion of Lebanon (1982 Lebanon War), Magach 6 tanks were fitted with explosive reactive armor (ERA). Further work has been done on the upgraded Magach 6 models, including new armor, Merkava-based tracks, new fire controls, a thermal sleeve for the gun and smoke dischargers, eventually resulting in the Magach 7 model which is still in use with the IDF.

As of early 2000s, Israel has about 1,500 Magachs, most of them Magach 6B Gal and Magach 7 (see Versions).

Source of the name "Magach"

Although as stated above, officially "Magach" stands for "Chariot of War Heroes", other versions exist. One version states that the real source of the name is the designation M48A3 (in Gematria 40 is "mem" ("m"), 8 is "chet" ("ch") and 3 is "gimel" ("g")). Yet another version says that M48A3 can be read as MAgAch (4 looks like "A", 8 like "g" etc.). According to another version, "Magach" comes from the Hebrew root "n.g.ch." and is akin to the verb "lingoach" - "to ram".

A popular joke in the IDF says that "Magach" means "Movil Gviyot Charukhot" - "charred bodies carrier", probably referring to the Yom Kippur War losses and particlularly to the aforementioned flammable hydraulic fluid problem of the M48.

Magach 5 - M48A5 in the original configuration. Generally similar to the Magach 3, but had slightly different engine and transmission - AVDS-1790-2D and CD-850-6A accordingly. Were eventually fitted with Blazer ERA.

Magach 7B (7 Bet) - An interim model with armor configuration similar to the 7C. Apparently never reached production.

Magach 7C (7 Gimel) - Fixed angled mantlet with gun 'slots'.

Magach should not be confused with Sabra series of upgrade packages (which appear especially similar to Magach 7 versions) for the M60A1/A3 which were developed for export to Turkey. Sabra includes upgrades similar to those of Magach 7, but an essential difference is that is armed with the MG251 120 mm smooth-bore gun (same as Merkava 3)